Senior Wellbeing and Public Health Officer
Permanent, Full Time
£35,323 to £41,556 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: *
Interviews will be held in person at County Hall, Chelmsford on 18th March 2026.
*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in-person collaboration at our Chelmsford office, typically around 1 day per week dependent on business need.
Line Managed by a Consultant in Public Health, this role plays a very important part in achieving the Council’s aspiration to become an outcome focused and evidence-based commissioning authority.
This Wellbeing and Public Health Officer (CYP) role will be responsible for the delivery of professional and expert support to the Wellbeing and Public Health work programme and in particular supporting work to improve outcomes for babies, children, young people and their families. There will be a particular focus for the postholder on improving emotional wellbeing and oral health outcomes. The post holder will lead on significant programmes of work and will collaborate with partner organisations and key stakeholders to deliver new, more flexible approaches to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes in Essex.
The role will support and may lead on a range of projects and activities within the overall programme, as well as maintaining Public Health business as usual activity. It will involve some complexity in working to support a number of specific agendas across a range of partner organisations.
Accountabilities
1. Work as part of the Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Team supporting a flexible and agile approach to resourcing.
2. Work with a range of senior managers in Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities and, where necessary, from across ECC and with partners and stakeholders, to define requirements and deliver activity ensuring its high quality, evidence based and achieves sustainable outcomes.
3. Provide day-to-day support as part of a matrix managed team for specific pieces of activity– both planned and reactive; for example writing reports or business cases or co-ordinating activities that deliver specific project documentation.
4. Provide subject matter expert advice and guidance on children and young people, emotional wellbeing and oral health. Projects which will change dependent on strategic priorities.
5. Support senior managers to ensure that prioritised activities can be planned, specified and met in terms of capacity and capability and delivered to a high standard.
6. Build relationships and work in collaboration (for example with, but not limited to, CCGs and District/Borough/City Councils) not only to deliver levels of integrated activity, but also to identify any further opportunities and efficiencies across organisations.
7. Work with partners and providers to apply a continuous improvement approach to ensure high quality, impactful, sustainable and cost-effective services or activities.
8. Use project management tools and techniques to plan, design and commission services.
9. Respond quickly to new challenges and opportunities ensuring that risks and opportunities are identified and managed and comply with all external and internal regulation: support responses to calls for contributions to consultation responses.
10. Performance monitoring, reviewing and evaluating services as appropriate.
11. Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post
The Experience You Will Bring
12. Educated to degree level or subject matter expert in public health by equivalent experience, with excellent oral and written communication skills
13. Experience of developing needs assessments and using evidence reviews to inform planning and commissioning
14. Knowledge and experience of project managing and commissioning
15. Evidence of continuing personal development.
16. Experience of working with partners to successfully deliver outcomes.
17. Experience of delivery of public services and managing change in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
18. Experience of working in a political environment, skills in understanding and responding to different perspectives and taking a cross organisational perspective, and working effectively with members and senior officers from across the council and partner agencies.
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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